The Shadow of Great Britain

281: Chapter 187: The Devil’s Contract Spirit (4k6)_2 281: Chapter 187: The Devil’s Contract Spirit (4k6)_2 Great Dumas hummed along as he listened, while Tom sitting beside him wore an expression of utter unease on his face.

Tom started, “Mr.

Dumas, only you and I need to know about you coming out from under the bed.

You mustn’t tell Arthur, okay!”

Great Dumas gave him a disdainful glance, “I’m not an idiot.

Why should I tell him that?

Besides, why are you afraid of him?

Isn’t he just another policeman like you?”

Upon hearing this, Tom quickly corrected him with a serious face, “Although I have a lot of respect for you, Mr.

Dumas, I would advise you not to insult the name Arthur Hastings in front of an officer from Scotland Yard.

As far as I know, most of the frontline patrol officers hold great respect for him.”

“Respect him?” Dumas raised his eyebrows, “Respect him for what?”

Tom glared, “Of course, for securing a three-shilling raise for everyone every week.”

“Three shillings?” Great Dumas curled his lip, “Such a small sum has bought you all out?

I think perhaps you could aspire to nobler ideals, like republicanism or something.”

“Republicanism?” Upon hearing the word, Tom simply asked, “Can republicanism bring us a three-shilling raise every week?”

Without a second thought, Great Dumas immediately promised, “Of course, it can!”

“Then why is it that France, where republicanism is done best, is even worse off than Britain?

I’ve heard the working class there barely get to see any meat year-round, but in London, the workers can have a bit of meat every day when there’s work.”

Great Dumas had intended to educate Tom thoroughly on his republican views, but Tom’s question stopped him cold: “This…

This is because republicanism has failed in France, if it were successful, I believe things would be better.”

Tom just shook his head, “Then let’s wait until France gets better before we talk about republicanism.

If you don’t offer a wage increase, yet want us to risk our lives, isn’t that a scam?

Mr.

Dumas, perhaps you could consider being a stockbroker at the London Stock Exchange.

The newspapers say it’s filled with swindlers.”

Great Dumas was rendered speechless by Tom’s retort; he was scratching his ears and thinking of a way to regain the upper hand when suddenly, there was a knock on the door of the box.

Startled by the sound, Tom shuddered.

He was too flustered to worry about whether Great Dumas was cooperative or not, grabbed Eld’s socks, stuffed them into Great Dumas’s mouth, and then pushed him back under the bed as if rolling out dough.

No sooner had he hidden the man than Eld’s voice came from outside, “Arthur!

Arthur!

Are you there?

Let’s switch boxes then; I just saw your room has a bed.

You’ll lie down anywhere, and the sofa in my room is even more comfortable.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter’s voice followed, “Sir, are you really a friend of Mr.

Hastings?

This is Mr.

Hastings’s private rest room.

He specifically instructed us just now that he was too tired from working these past few days, needing to rest before going on stage and not to be disturbed.”

“Of course, I’m his friend.

If there’s anybody in the world who’s Arthur’s friend, it’s undoubtedly me.

If you don’t believe me, call him out and you’ll see if he recognizes me.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’ve called several times and there’s no response.

Maybe Mr.

Hastings is asleep; perhaps we should let it be.”

“Let it be?

Don’t you have the keys?

Open the door for me.

If he blames anyone later, it’s on me.”

“I’m sorry, sir, though it may displease you, I must adhere to my professional ethics and reply: I cannot oblige.”

“All right, all right, then I’ll find a way myself.”

Eld stood outside the door, looking displeased as the waiter walked away, but before he could voice a complaint,

the tall and attractive Coconut Tree lady beside him smiled coquettishly and pulled out a bunch of keys from behind her, “Darling, see what I’ve got?”

Eld first paused in surprise, then became ecstatic, “Oh!

My sweetheart!

I never expected that besides your beauty, you’d have such a unique skill!

Did you take these keys from the waiter?”

“Mhm!” Coconut Tree, hooking Eld’s arm, asked, “But darling, are you sure we won’t be discovered here?”

Eld, his face flushed with excitement, thumped his chest and guaranteed, “Don’t worry, I’ve checked everywhere.

The boxes on the second floor—this one is the most secluded.

Here we can enjoy the fantastic shows performed by the masters while discussing literary issues.

Maybe you don’t like literature, but that’s okay, we can also talk about natural science.

I have a friend who is a naturalist; he told me humans might not have been created by God.

Darling, what do you think about that?

I believe we might be able to verify that tonight.”

Coconut Tree’s eyes crinkled into a line with laughter, and she fluttered her horsehair false eyelashes, bit her back teeth, and spoke in falsetto, “I think we should first step into the room.”

Upon hearing this, Eld felt every muscle in his body tense, his fists clenching, “Yes, yes, yes, darling, I’ll do whatever you say.”

He snatched the keys in a flurry.

Although it was just unlocking, maybe Eld was too eager; he all but burst the door open.